It depicts an episode during the Battle of Arcole in November 1796, with General Napoleon Bonaparte leading his troops to storm the bridge.

He is dressed in the dark blue trousers and tunic of a general of the First French Republic, with a gold-embroidered red collar.

The land bordering the river is painted in dark tones, with a smoking cannonball still visible.

It was then reacquired by Napoleon III's wife Eugénie de Montijo in 1871, who eight years later gave it to the Louvre (now inventory number RF271).

It passed to the château de Compiègne in 1901, then finally the Palace of Versailles in 1938 (inventory number MV 6314).